Nuclear reactor training and advanced weapons agreed at landmark Aukus meeting

Australia, UK and US have agreed to work closely together to boost global security, following the conclusion of a landmark Aukus meeting in London.

Defence Secretary John Healey committed to more UK-delivered training courses as hundreds of Australian defence and civilian personnel are to be upskilled in nuclear reactor expertise in 2025 by specialist Royal Navy engineers.

The first such course concluded earlier this month, with 250 personnel learning the skills necessary to own, operate, maintain, sustain and regulate a nuclear-powered submarine.

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It was fitting that the trilateral defence ministers' Aukus meeting was held at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich – the site of the Royal Navy's initial nuclear reactor training more than 60 years ago.

The UK and US are strengthening superiority in the maritime domain by integrating Sting Ray torpedoes into P-8A Poseidon submarine-hunting aircraft.

The Sting Ray counters deep diving and conventional submarines, and this move has the potential to boost lethality and stockpile resilience across the Aukus nations.

Standing shoulder-to-shoulder

Mr Healey said: "These are serious times, with threats increasing across the globe.

"Our defence partnerships have never been more important. I am pleased to confirm further skills and capability agreements with our Aukus partners today.

"Our government will stand shoulder to shoulder with our Australian and the US partners, with new UK leadership in Aukus and a commitment to boost jobs and growth.

"It has been an honour to host my counterparts in London for this landmark meeting."

A trilateral statement issued following the meeting underlined the security partnership's continued commitment to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific that is secure and stable.

It said the countries would continue to work to uphold the rules-based international order where human rights and the rule of law are respected, and states can make sovereign choices free from coercion.